Man attacked in Oxford city centre over cigarette dispute

A 23-YEAR-OLD man was assaulted in Oxford and taken to hospital after he became involved with a dispute over cigarettes.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 3.10am on Saturday.

The man had been queuing for a taxi in St Aldates with friends when one of them refused another man’s request for a cigarette. When one of the friends then lit his own cigarette, the man became angry and the 23-year-old intervened.

He was punched to the head, face and upper body by the offender and two further men also got involved. After he tried to run away, the men gave chase and knocked him to the floor, before jumping on his back. He then escaped to a police station where an ambulance was called. The man was taken to hospital and later discharged.

Thames Valley Police officer Rebecca Froud, of Cowley police station, said there were between 20 and 30 people queuing when the fight happened.

She said: “I am appealing for witnesses who saw what happened or who may have taken photographs of the incident.

“I would also like to speak to anyone with any information about the incident.”

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Those with information should call the non-emergency numner 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Comments (2)

He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.

He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.The New Private Eye

He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.

Score: -5

snert says...10:59am Tue 10 Jun 14

The New Private Eye wrote…

He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.

Idiots.

[quote][p][bold]The New Private Eye[/bold] wrote:
He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.[/p][/quote]Idiots.snert

The New Private Eye wrote…

He was not waiting for a TAXI, he was waiting for a MINI-CAB (private hire vehicle) Please get your reporting factually correct OM. It is a totally different class of people that wait at Carfax for a TAXI, than walk down St Aldates to have a fight whilst waiting for an over priced MINI-CAB.

Ipsoregulated

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